News
31 Internet Fraudsters Bag Jail Terms in Enugu, Awka
The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentencing of 31 internet fraudsters by Justices Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Enugu and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, sitting in Awka, Anambra State.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale stated this in a statement on Monday.
He listed the convicts to include Pascal Chinedu, Chiemerie Edeh, Okeke Chiagozie Harrison, Chidera Victor Mmadu, Chizoba Onyedika Felix, Ekperechi David, Sunday John Cross, Enenta Ebube Michael, Nwankwo Tochukwu Firminus, Chukwuebuka Sebastine Ozoemena, Vincent Eduvie, Chisom Mbagu Augustine, Ifeanyi Samuel, Abunoko Kelly, Ikechukwu Joshua, Agada Daniel Olema, Eguiri Franklyn and Akpoze Julius.
Others are, Evans Odibo, Martins Chinedu Ugwueke, Eli Izuchukwu Ogbonna, Samuel Ogbonnia, Amarachi Abigail Nwalue, Abraham Chimeremeze, Godbless Akpoze, Mmoyekwe Okwudili, Emmanuel Nwanga, Eduje Precious, Umoke Chinedu Reuben, Godwin Happy and Nnabuike Collins Odoh.
While Chinedu, Edeh, Harrison, Mmadu, Felix, David, Cross, Michael, Firminus and Ozoemena were arraigned on February 21, 2024 before Justice Umar, the remaining 21 convicts were arraigned on February 22, 2024 before Justice Dimgba.
The 31 faced one-count separate charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation, obtaining by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents, to which they all pleaded “guilty.”
Onyedika’s charge reads: “That you, Chizoba Onyedika Felix, sometime in February 2024, in Asaba, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, sent a message to one Sig Serdel, a German National by means of your Redmi Note 11 through your fake telegram account +19086996877 presenting yourself as Loraine Francis, Bitcoin investor and obtained the sum of $1,300 from Sig Serdel and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section.”
In view of their “guilty” pleas, Nuradeen Shehu Ingawa and Michael Ikechukwu Ani, counsels to the EFCC, reviewed the facts of the cases and prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while C. J. Nwatadi, Bernard Okeke, U. AKposi, Arinze Anyigo , C. S. Nwobodo, E. C. Chinyeze and Collins Akpusi, who were defence counsels, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that their clients were first-time offenders.
Justice Umar convicted and sentenced Michael, Ozoemena, Cross, Chiedu and Firminus to 12 months imprisonment each, with a fine option of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) respectively. He handed 24 months imprisonment with a fine option of N750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) to Felix, sentenced Harrison and Mmadu to 18 months imprisonment each, with a fine option of N500,000.00 respectively. He also sentenced Edeh to 10 months imprisonment with a fine option of N300 ( Three Hundred Naira) while David bagged six months imprisonment with a fine option of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira). In addition to his sentence, Justice Umar ordered Felix to make a restitution of the sum of $1,300 (One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars) to his victim through the Federal Government.
Justice Dimgba convicted and sentenced Odoh and Olema to one year imprisonment each, with a fine option of N150,000.00 ( One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) respectively, while the rest 19 were sentenced to two weeks community service.
All the convicts forfeited their mobile phones recovered from them to the Federal Government.
They bagged their imprisonment after they were arrested at various locations by operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC for their involvement in internet-related offences.
They were charged to court and convicted.
News
No tenure extension for IGP Egbetokun – Police
The Nigeria Police Force High Command has clarified the rumoured tenure extension for Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stating that there was no extension granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Instead, the law governing the tenure of the IGP’s office was properly applied.
This clarification was made in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The statement reads, “the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.
“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.
This letter, dated 3rd November 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
” It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment
“The ongoing circulation of false information is clearly the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains.
” Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence.
This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.
” We urge the public to disregard the unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force.
In clear terms, IGP’s tenure of office is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of perennial distraction to policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”
News
EFCC grabs 44 for internet fraud in Kwara
Forty-four (44) suspected internet fraudsters were arrested at different locations in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on Friday by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Spokesperson for EFCC, Dele Oyewale said in a statement on Friday that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.
“They were arrested on Friday September 6, 2024 at Sango, Kulende, Taxaco and Harmony Estate, all in Ilorin, following credible intelligence over their alleged involvement internet- related offences,” the EFCC spokesperson said.
He listed items recovered from the suspects to include six different brands of exotic cars, laptops, smart phones and charms.
The suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Ilorin Directorate of the anti-graft agency had also arrested 56 suspected internet fraudsters two days ago.
News
Olubadan elevates 4 senior chiefs, 1 junior in Balogun line
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, on Friday, promoted four senior Chiefs and one junior Chief in the Balogun line.
The promotion is in line with the tradition of ascendancy to the Olubadan stool.
The ceremony was done by the Olubadan in his palace at Oke Aremo, Ibadan.
The traditional rites were performed by the Oluwo of Ibadanland, Chief Wahab Popoola Labosinde who decorated the elevated Senior Chief and the junior Chief with the traditional Akoko leaves.
Those who were promoted were; Senior Chief Samuel Adegboyega Adeniran, who was elevated from Ekefa Balogun to Abese Balogun, Senior Chief Taiwo Anthony Adebayo Oyekan (absent ) who was promoted from Agbakin Balogun to Maye Balogun, Senior Chief Raufu Amusa Eleruwere who climbed the ladder from Aare Alaasa Balogun to Ekefa Balogun, Senior Chief Emiola Onideure who advanced from Ikolaba Balogun to Agbakin Balogun and Chief (Barrister) Tirimisiyu Arowolo Obisesan (absent) who rose from Asaaju Balogun to Aare Alaasa Balogun.
The traditional ruler congratulated the new chiefs on their elevation and charged them to use their rise in position for the progress, unity and development of Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
Olakulehin admonished the newly elevated traditional title holders to rededicate their lives to the preservation of the Yoruba culture as well as improving the quality of lives of residents and indigenes of Ibadan land.
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